The first trailer for The Harder They Fall has dropped, and the fandom has already begun. What's being heralded as a "new school Western" flexes a star-studded cast of Black actors: Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, R.J. Cyler, Damon Wayans Jr., Regina King, and Idris Elba. The film, due out later this year, will mark Jeymes Samuel's directorial debut.
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The Teaser
Though no official release date has been announced, The Harder They Fall will be premiere on Netflix later this year. Sending up Hollywood stereotypes, this edgy cowboy flick will also premiere in select theaters... earning the chance for Oscar recognition and big box office returns.
'The Harder They Fall'
According to a synopsis from Netflix, The Harder They Fall is a tale of vengeance. Based on the adventures of outlaw Nat Love, a former slave turned famous cowboy, The Harder They Fall is more than just a Western which features a Black ensemble. It's grounded in the experiences of real -- and often overlooked -- Black Western heroes. As Love (played here by Jonathon Majors) sets out on a mission to hunt down his rival Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), he will encounter many notorious figures of the Old West, including Stagecoach Mary (Zazie Beetz), the rodeo star Bill Pickett (Edi Gathegi), and the sharpshooter Jim Beckwourth (R.J. Cyler). Buck, meanwhile, travels with his own infamous brigade: the fictional "Treacherous" Trudy Smith (Regina King) and the murderer Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield).
The semi-historical adventure was written for the screen by filmmaker Jeymes Samuel and Boaz Yakin. The project is being produced by Jay-Z, James Lassiter, Lawrence Bender, and Samuel.
Nat Love, a.k.a. "Deadwood Dick"
Both Nat Love and Rufus Buck were real figures in the American frontier. Though they may not have been real-life rivals, Buck was indeed a fearsome outlaw who ravaged the territory of what's now Oklahoma in 1895. Love's life story is more well-known. But The Harder They Fall marks the first look at his exploits in mainstream cinema. Learn more about his fascinating life, in the video above.
